NFL fines Ochocinco $30K for poncho, sombrero

In this photo taken on Dec. 6, 2009, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Cincinnati. A person in the NFL told The Associated Press that Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has been fined $30,000 for donning a poncho and sombrero after scoring a touchdown. The person spoke Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, on condition of anonymity because the league has not made any announcement about the fine. (AP Photo/David Kohl, File)
— AP

In this photo taken on Dec. 6, 2009, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Cincinnati. A person in the NFL told The Associated Press that Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco has been fined $30,000 for donning a poncho and sombrero after scoring a touchdown. The person spoke Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, on condition of anonymity because the league has not made any announcement about the fine. (AP Photo/David Kohl, File)
/ AP

The Cincinnati Bengals receiver is being fined $30,000 for his latest stunt - donning a poncho and sombrero after scoring a touchdown this weekend - a person in the NFL told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not made any announcement about the fine. The punishment was first reported by ESPN.com.

Ochocinco wore a gray poncho and black sombrero after catching a TD pass in Cincinnati's 23-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

The receiver legally changed his name last year from Chad Johnson to a loose translation in Spanish of his uniform number, 85. "Ochocinco" literally means "eight five."

On his Twitter account, Ochocinco posted Tuesday: "Dear NFL League Office ... being great means having fun n celebrating. I've written a letter of apology to yall."

This fine comes about a month after Ochocinco was docked $20,000 and reprimanded by the NFL for pretending to bribe an official a dollar.

While one of his catches was being reviewed during Cincinnati's 17-7 victory over Baltimore on Nov. 8, Ochocinco held a dollar bill in his right hand at his side but didn't give it to the official, who motioned for him to stay away.

When that fine was handed down, the league sent Ochocinco a letter citing rules that prohibit abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures toward officials. That letter also noted that players are prohibited from taking items onto the field that are not a part of their uniform.